Fluid injection nozzle

Abstract

To provide technique enabling materialization of cost control and versatility improvement of a fluid jet nozzle.SOLUTION: An exemplary fluid jet nozzle comprises: a first member fixed to a sensor or a to-be-mounted portion to which the sensor is mounted, and having a fluid introduction port and a first fluid passage connected to the introduction port; and a second member fixed to the first member and having a second fluid passage connected to the first fluid passage, and an ejection port through which the fluid having passed through the second fluid passage is jetted to a predetermined point of the sensor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid ejection nozzle for ejecting a fluid. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, the washer nozzle for an in-vehicle camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a fixed member having an inlet and a flow passage that guides the washer fluid introduced from the inlet. The washer nozzle for an in-vehicle camera also includes a movable nozzle member having a sliding part that has a communication passage that is connected to the flow passage and is slidable relative to the fixed member while maintaining the communication state, and a nozzle part that is movable integrally with the sliding part and has an injection port that injects the washer fluid delivered through the communication passage.

[0003] The movable nozzle member is configured so that the sliding portion and nozzle portion can move together as a single unit, and the sliding portion is slidably attached to the fixed member, so that the direction of the nozzle portion that sprays the cleaning fluid can be adjusted so that it faces the imaging surface of the in-vehicle camera. This makes it possible to apply the same camera nozzle to various in-vehicle cameras whose imaging surface positions differ depending on their shapes, sizes, etc., by adjusting the position of the movable nozzle member and changing the spray direction of the cleaning fluid, thereby improving versatility. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-18404 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] If a configuration is adopted in which a movable nozzle member is provided that moves relative to a fixed member that is fixed to a garnish or the like on the vehicle body, as in Patent Document 1, for example, the number of parts in the washer nozzle tends to increase, raising concerns about increased costs and labor burden during assembly, etc. For this reason, there has been a desire to develop a nozzle with a different structure from that of Patent Document 1.

[0006] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for reducing costs and improving versatility in relation to a fluid ejection nozzle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An exemplary fluid injection nozzle of the present invention comprises a first member fixed to a sensor or a mounting portion on which the sensor is mounted, the first member having a fluid inlet and a first fluid passage connected to the inlet, and a second member fixed to the first member, the second member having a second fluid passage connected to the first fluid passage and an injection port for injecting the fluid that has passed through the second fluid passage onto a predetermined location on the sensor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The exemplary fluid injection nozzle of the present invention can reduce costs and improve versatility. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection system; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a second member included in the fluid ejection nozzle of the first embodiment; [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] Schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] Schematic side view of a first member fixed to a camera. [Figure 7A]Schematic diagram for explaining a detailed example of a pressing unit [Figure 7B] Schematic diagram for explaining a detailed example of a pressing unit [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle according to a second embodiment; [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle according to a modified example of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, an XYZ coordinate system is shown as a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system where appropriate. In the following description, the X direction is the front-to-back direction, the Y direction is the left-to-right direction, and the Z direction is the up-down direction. The +X side is the front side, and the -X side is the rear side. The +Y side is the right side, and the -Y side is the left side. The +Z side is the top side, and the -Z side is the bottom side. However, these directions are names used merely for the purpose of explanation, and are not intended to limit the actual positional relationships and directions.

[0011] <1. Fluid injection system> The fluid ejection system of the present invention is a device that removes foreign matter adhering to a predetermined location on a sensor by ejecting a fluid onto the predetermined location. The foreign matter may be, for example, raindrops, mud, dust, etc. The fluid may be, for example, a gas or a liquid. The gas may be, for example, air. The liquid may be, for example, water or alcohol. The liquid may contain a cleaning substance such as a surfactant.

[0012] The sensor is, for example, a mobile-mounted sensor mounted on a mobile body. The mobile body is, for example, a vehicle, an aircraft, a ship, etc., and when the mobile body is a vehicle, the sensor is an in-vehicle sensor. In detail, the sensor is, for example, a camera or a LiDAR (light detection and ranging). For example, when the sensor is a camera, the predetermined location is a lens. Also, when the sensor is a LiDAR, the predetermined location is a cover made of glass or the like that covers a light source that emits light.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fluid injection system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fluid injection system 100 of this embodiment is suitable for a moving body such as a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid injection system 100 includes a fluid injection nozzle 1, a fluid supply pipe 2, and a pump device 3.

[0014] The pump device 3 is a device that supplies fluid to the fluid injection nozzle 1. In this embodiment, the pump device 3 is a device that generates compressed air and supplies the air to the fluid injection nozzle 1. The pump device 3 may also be a device that supplies liquid to the fluid injection nozzle 1, in which case the pump device 3 is configured as a device that supplies liquid to the fluid injection nozzle 1 from a tank that stores the liquid.

[0015] The fluid supply pipe 2 is disposed between the fluid ejection nozzle 1 and the pump device 3. Specifically, one end of the fluid supply pipe 2 is connected to the fluid ejection nozzle 1, and the other end is connected to the pump device 3. The pump device 3 supplies a fluid (air in this embodiment) to the fluid ejection nozzle 1 via the fluid supply pipe 2. The fluid supply pipe 2 is a hose made of, for example, resin or rubber. However, the fluid supply pipe 2 may also be a metal pipe.

[0016] The fluid ejection nozzle 1 ejects a fluid at a predetermined location on the sensor. In this embodiment, the sensor is a camera 4. The predetermined location on the sensor is the lens 4a of the camera 4. The fluid is air. That is, the fluid ejection nozzle 1 ejects air at the lens 4a of the camera 4. By ejecting air from the fluid ejection nozzle 1, foreign matter adhering to the lens 4a can be removed. Details of the fluid ejection nozzle 1 will be described below.

[0017] In this embodiment, as an example, the camera 4 is a camera that captures images of the periphery of the vehicle. The camera 4 is disposed outside the vehicle, for example, at the front, rear, left side, or right side of the vehicle. The camera 4 is disposed on the vehicle in a state where it is attached to a camera bracket 5 that is fixed to an appropriate position on the vehicle.

[0018] <2. Fluid injection nozzle> (2-1. First embodiment) The fluid injection nozzle shown in FIG. 1 is a fluid injection nozzle 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the fluid injection nozzle 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fluid injection nozzle 1 includes a first member 11 and a second member 12. The first member 11 and the second member 12 are separate members. In this embodiment, the first member 11 and the second member 12 are each made of resin. However, the material of the first member 11 and the second member 12 is not limited to resin.

[0019] The first member 11 is fixed to a sensor or a mounting portion to which a sensor is attached. In this embodiment, the first member 11 is fixed to a camera 4, which is an example of a sensor. As shown in FIG. 2 , the first member 11 specifically includes a camera mounting portion 111 that is attached to the camera 4, and a first fluid passage component 112 that is provided with a passage through which a fluid passes. The camera mounting portion 111 and the first fluid passage component 112 are configured as a single member.

[0020] The camera mounting portion 111 has a mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 and a pair of first member curved portions 1112. The mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 has a rectangular plate shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. More specifically, the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 has a rectangular shape that extends in the left-right direction when viewed from above in the up-down direction. One of the pair of first member curved portions 1112 is connected to the right end of the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111, and the other is connected to the left end of the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111. Each of the pair of first member curved portions 1112 has a curved structure that extends downward as it moves outward in the left-right direction of the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111.

[0021] The mounting plate portion 1111 has a pair of protrusions 1111a protruding forward from the front end. The pair of protrusions 1111a are arranged with a gap in the left-right direction. More specifically, the pair of protrusions 1111a are arranged symmetrically with respect to a bisector that bisects the mounting plate portion 1111 in the left-right direction when viewed from above in a top-bottom plan view. The front end of the mounting plate portion 1111 is provided with an inclined surface 1111b that becomes thinner in the up-down direction as it extends forward. The pair of protrusions 1111a extend forward from the inclined surface 1111b.

[0022] The camera mounting part 111 has an adhesive substance disposed on the underside of the mounting part flat plate part 1111, and is fixed to the camera 4 using the adhesive substance. The adhesive substance is, for example, double-sided tape. More specifically, the adhesive substance is disposed between the underside of the mounting part flat plate part 1111 and the upper surface of the camera 4. With the camera mounting part 111 fixed to the camera 4, the camera 4 is sandwiched between the pair of first member curved parts 1112 from the left and right directions.

[0023] That is, in this embodiment, the first member 11 has an attachment surface that is attached to the outer surface of the camera 4 (an example of a sensor). In this embodiment, the attachment surface is the underside of the flat mounting portion 1111. With this configuration, the fluid ejection nozzle 1 can be fixed directly to the sensor. For example, the configuration of this embodiment is convenient when it is difficult to attach the fluid ejection nozzle 1 to a member (e.g., a camera bracket 5) to which the sensor is attached.

[0024] The first fluid passage component 112 has a rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121, a cylindrical portion 1122, and a protrusion 1123. The rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera mounting portion 111. The rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 extends in the left-right direction. The rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 and the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 have the same center position in the left-right direction when viewed from above in the top-bottom direction. The rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 is disposed close to the rear end of the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111. The front-rear width of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 is smaller than the front-rear width of the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111. For this reason, the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 has an upper surface that is exposed further forward than the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121.

[0025] The tubular portion 1122 extends upward from the center of the upper surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121. Specifically, the tubular portion 1122 is cylindrical. A first hollow portion 1121a is provided inside the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121, connecting to an internal space 1122a of the tubular portion 1122 and extending in the up-down direction. A second hollow portion 1121b is provided inside the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121, extending rearward from the center of the front surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 and connecting to the first hollow portion 1121a. Both the first hollow portion 1121a and the second hollow portion 1121b have a circular cross section perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow. The space connecting the first hollow portion 1121a and the second hollow portion 1121b is L-shaped when viewed from the left and right.

[0026] The protrusion 1123 protrudes forward from the center of the front surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121. The protrusion 1123 is tubular and extends in the front-rear direction, and more specifically, is cylindrical. The internal space 1123a of the protrusion 1123 is connected to the second hollow portion 1121b. In a plan view from the front-rear direction, the internal space 1123a of the protrusion 1123 and the second hollow portion 1121b are circular and have the same center position and diameter.

[0027] One end of the fluid supply pipe 2 is connected to the cylindrical portion 1122. The fluid supplied from the pump device 3 to the fluid ejection nozzle 1 through the fluid supply pipe 2 passes through the internal space 1122a of the cylindrical portion 1122, the first hollow portion 1121a, the second hollow portion 1121b, and the internal space 1123a of the protrusion 1123, in that order, before exiting the first member 11.

[0028] That is, the first member 11 has a fluid inlet 11a and a first fluid passage 11b connected to the inlet 11a. In this embodiment, the inlet 11a is located at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 1122 and introduces air. The internal space 1122a of the cylindrical portion 1122, the first hollow portion 1121a, the second hollow portion 1121b, and the internal space 1123a of the protrusion 1123 form the first fluid passage 11b, which is a passage for air.

[0029] The second member 12 is fixed to the first member 11. Details of the fixing method will be described later. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the second member 12 provided in the fluid ejection nozzle 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken at the position indicated by IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken at the position indicated by VV in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the second member 12 has a connecting portion 121 that forms a portion that is connected to the first member 11, and a second fluid passage component 122 that is provided with a passage through which the fluid passes. The connecting portion 121 and the second fluid passage component 122 are formed from a single member.

[0030] The connecting portion 121 has a rectangular plate shape that extends in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction. More specifically, the connecting portion 121 has a rectangular shape that extends in the left-right direction when viewed from above in the front-rear direction. The connecting portion 121 has an opening 1211 in the center of the rear surface. The opening 1211 extends rearward along the front-rear direction and is connected to a second fluid passage 12a (details of which will be described later) provided in the second fluid passage configuration portion 122.

[0031] The second fluid passage component 122 has an inclined portion 1221, a second member curved portion 1222, and a second member tip portion 1223. The inclined portion 1221 is disposed in front of the connecting portion 121 and is connected to the connecting portion 121. The inclined portion 1221 has an inclined structure in which the vertical height position of the upper surface decreases toward the front. Inside the inclined portion 1221, there is provided an inclined portion cavity 1221a that slopes downward toward the front. The rear end of the inclined portion cavity 1221a is connected to the opening 1211. The inclined portion cavity 1221a has a structure in which its vertical width narrows toward the front. Furthermore, the inclined portion cavity 1221a has a structure in which its left-right width widens toward the front.

[0032] The second member curved portion 1222 is disposed in front of the inclined portion 1221 and is connected to the inclined portion 1221. The second member curved portion 1222 has a curved structure that extends downward as it moves forward. A curved portion cavity 1222a that extends downward as it moves forward is provided inside the second member curved portion 1222. The rear end of the curved portion cavity 1222a is connected to the inclined portion cavity 1221a. The curved portion cavity 1222a has a structure in which its width in the left-right direction increases as it moves forward.

[0033] The second member tip portion 1223 is plate-shaped and connected to the front end of the second member curved portion 1222, extending downward. A tip hollow portion 1223a extending in the vertical direction is provided inside the second member tip portion 1223. The upper end of the tip hollow portion 1223a is connected to the curved portion hollow portion 1222a. The lower end side of the tip hollow portion 1223a is connected to the external space via a tip opening portion 1223b provided on the lower surface of the second member tip portion 1223. The tip hollow portion 1223a has a structure in which its width in the horizontal direction increases from top to bottom. The tip opening portion 1223b located at the lower end of the tip hollow portion 1223a is rectangular and extends in the horizontal direction when viewed in a plan view from the vertical direction.

[0034] When attaching the second member 12 to the first member 11, the convex portion 1123 of the first member 11 is inserted into the opening 1211 of the second member 12. This connects the internal space 1123a of the convex portion 1123 and the inclined portion cavity 1221a. That is, the first fluid passage 11b and the inclined portion cavity 1221a are connected. The fluid that enters the inclined portion cavity 1221a from the first fluid passage 11b passes through the inclined portion cavity 1221a, the curved portion cavity 1222a, the tip portion cavity 1223a, and the tip portion opening 1223b in this order, and is then sprayed out of the second member 12.

[0035] That is, the second member 12 has a second fluid passage 12a connected to the first fluid passage 11b and an outlet 12b that injects the fluid that has passed through the second fluid passage 12a toward a predetermined location on the sensor. In this embodiment, the inclined portion hollow portion 1221a, the curved portion hollow portion 1222a, and the tip portion hollow portion 1223a form the second fluid passage 12a, which is an air passage. The tip portion opening 1223b forms the outlet 12b that injects air toward the lens 4a of the camera 4. In this embodiment, air is injected downward from the outlet 12b.

[0036] In general, it is desirable for a fluid injection nozzle to inject fluid from a position as close as possible to the location where foreign matter is to be removed (lens 4a in this example). Therefore, the shape of the fluid injection nozzle is designed to match the shape of at least one of the sensor (camera 4 in this example) and the mounting portion to which the sensor is attached (camera bracket 5 in this example). The shapes of the sensor and the mounting portion are easily changed due to constraints imposed by the location (vehicle, etc.) where they are installed. For this reason, it is necessary to change the shape of the fluid injection nozzle in accordance with changes in the shape of the sensor, etc. As a result, in the past, every time the shape of the sensor, etc. was changed, the mold used to manufacture the fluid injection nozzle had to be remade, which tended to increase the manufacturing cost of the fluid injection nozzle.

[0037] In this regard, the fluid injection nozzle 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the first member 11 and the second member 12 are prepared separately and then connected to form the fluid injection nozzle 1. This allows one member to be a shape-changeable part whose shape can be changed to accommodate changes in the shape of the sensor or the like, while the other member can be a general-purpose part that can be used in common even when the shape of the sensor or the like is changed. In this configuration, parts that can be formed with low mold costs can be designated as shape-changeable parts, while parts that require higher mold costs can be designated as general-purpose parts. As a result, compared to a configuration (conventional configuration) in which the entire mold used to manufacture the fluid injection nozzle is redesigned to accommodate changes in the shape of the sensor or the like, the versatility of the fluid injection nozzle can be improved while the manufacturing cost can be kept low. Furthermore, because the fluid injection nozzle 1 of this embodiment has a configuration in which the first member 11 and the second member 12 are fixed to each other, an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the first member 11 and the second member 12 are fixed to each other, thereby suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs compared to a movable configuration.

[0038] In the fluid ejection nozzle 1 of this embodiment, the first member 11 corresponds to the above-mentioned part requiring shape modification, and the second member 12 corresponds to the general-purpose part. The shape of the first member 11 is changed in response to a change in at least one of the mounting position of the fluid ejection nozzle 1, the shape of the camera 4, and the shape of the camera bracket 5, for example. The first member 11 has a shape that can be easily molded as a single unit using a mold, and is therefore not costly to manufacture.

[0039] As can be seen from the above description, the second fluid passage 12a of the second member 12 has a curved structure. Furthermore, the shape of a first cross section, which is the cross section of the portion of the second fluid passage 12a that connects to the first fluid passage 11b, is different from the shape of a second cross section, which is the cross section of the injection port 12b. Generally, fluid injection nozzles that have passages with internal curves or portions whose cross-sectional shapes change are difficult to mold as a single unit, and the manufacturing costs tend to be high. For example, fluid injection nozzles are formed by joining multiple parts (resin molded products) using ultrasonic welding or the like, which tends to increase the costs required for equipment, jigs, etc.

[0040] In this regard, in this embodiment, the fluid injection nozzle 1 is divided into a first member 11 and a second member 12, and the portion having a shape that is likely to increase manufacturing costs (such as the curved structure described above) is arranged in the second member 12. Therefore, by using the second member 12 as a general-purpose part, even if it becomes necessary to change the shape of the fluid injection nozzle to accommodate a change in the shape of a sensor or the like, it is possible to accommodate the change in shape of the sensor or the like using the first member 11, which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. In other words, the configuration of this embodiment makes it possible to reduce manufacturing costs and improve versatility for a fluid injection nozzle whose shape needs to be changed to accommodate a change in the shape of a sensor or the like.

[0041] The second member 12 of this embodiment can be formed by joining two or more members formed by, for example, resin molding. The joining of the members can be achieved by, for example, ultrasonic welding or adhesive bonding. While the second fluid passage 12a of this embodiment has a curved structure and a shape with a varying cross section, it may have only one of these structures.

[0042] Specifically, the first cross section, which is the cross section of the second fluid passage 12a at the portion connected to the first fluid passage 11b, has a circular shape. The second cross section, which is the cross section of the nozzle 12b, has a rectangular shape. This configuration allows a fluid suitable for removing water droplets and the like from a predetermined location on a sensor, such as the lens 4a of the camera 4. For example, the width in a specific direction can be increased to broaden the spray range, and the fluid can be sprayed strongly. The shapes of the first cross section and the second cross section described above are merely examples, and these shapes may be modified as appropriate.

[0043] In this embodiment, the second member 12 has an opening 1211 into which the convex portion 1123 of the first member 11 is inserted. However, the opposite configuration may be adopted, in which the second member 12 has a convex portion and the first member 11 has an opening into which the convex portion of the second member 12 is inserted. That is, the second member 12 may have an opening into which the convex portion of the first member 11 is inserted, or a convex portion to be inserted into the opening of the first member 11. The engagement point between the convex portion 1123 and the opening 1211 may form a connection portion 13 that connects the first fluid passage 11b and the second fluid passage 12a. By adopting a configuration in which the convex portion 1123 and the opening 1211 are fitted together between the first member 11 and the second member 12 in this manner, the second member 12 can be easily configured as a general-purpose component.

[0044] 1 and 2, the fluid ejection nozzle 1 further includes inter-member fastening screws 14 that fasten the first member 11 and the second member 12. In this embodiment, there are two inter-member fastening screws 14, but this number may be changed as appropriate. The second member 12 has second-member screw insertion holes 1212 through which the inter-member fastening screws 14 pass on the surface on which the opening 1211 or the convex portion is provided. In this embodiment, a pair of second-member screw insertion holes 1212 is provided on the surface on which the opening 1211 of the connecting portion 121 is provided. The second-member screw insertion holes 1212 penetrate in the front-rear direction. The pair of second-member screw insertion holes 1212 are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction with the opening 1211 as the reference.

[0045] Furthermore, a pair of screw holes 1121c are provided on the front surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 of the first member 11, into which parts of the inter-component fastening screws 14 that have passed through the pair of second-member screw insertion holes 1212 are inserted. The second member 12 is fixed to the first member 11 by screw fastening using the pair of screw holes 1121c and the pair of inter-component fastening screws 14.

[0046] The screw holes 1121c may or may not penetrate the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 in the front-rear direction. The pair of screw holes 1121c are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction with the protrusion 1123 as the reference. If the inter-component fastening screws 14 are tapping screws, holes into which the tips of the tapping screws are inserted may be provided in the front surface of the rectangular parallelepiped portion 1121 instead of the screw holes 1121c.

[0047] As in this embodiment, by fastening the first member 11 and the second member 12 together using the inter-member fastening screws 14, the two members 11 and 12 can be firmly fastened together. Furthermore, by providing second-member screw insertion holes 1212 on the surface of the second member 12 where the openings 1211 (or protrusions) are provided, the second member 12 can be easily configured as a general-purpose part. Note that the first member 11 and the second member 12 may be configured to be joined together using, for example, an adhesive or the like. In other words, the first member 11 and the second member 12 may be integrated without using the inter-member fastening screws 14.

[0048] When the first member 11 and the second member 12 are fastened together with the inter-member fastening screws 14, a portion of the rear side of the second member 12 is disposed on the camera mounting portion 111 of the first member 11. A pair of protrusions 1111a provided on the mounting portion flat plate portion 1111 are inserted into a pair of recesses 122a provided on the lower surface of the second fluid passage component 122 of the second member 12. The pair of recesses 122a are recessed toward the front. With this configuration, when fastening the first member 11 and the second member 12 with the inter-member fastening screws 14, the screwing operation can be started with the pair of protrusions 1111a inserted into the pair of recesses 122a. This prevents the second member 12 from rotating relative to the first member 11 during the screwing operation. In other words, the screwing operation can be performed efficiently.

[0049] As described above, in this embodiment, the first member 11 is attached to the camera 4 configured as a sensor. In such a configuration, the position of the first member 11 relative to the sensor (camera 4) is important in order to appropriately position the ejection port 12b of the fluid ejection nozzle 1. In consideration of this, it is preferable that the first member 11 has a pressing portion that is pressed in a predetermined direction against the attachment portion to which the sensor is attached when attached to the sensor. This makes it possible to position the first member 11 in a predetermined direction relative to the sensor using the attachment portion, and attach the first member 11 to the sensor. In other words, the ejection port 12b of the fluid ejection nozzle 1 can be positioned appropriately.

[0050] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the first member 11 fixed to the camera 4. FIG. 6 is a side view seen from the right side. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the first member 11 has a pressing portion 113 that is pressed against the camera bracket 5 in the front-to-rear direction when attached to the camera 4. The front-to-rear direction coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera 4. That is, in this embodiment, the sensor is the camera 4, and the predetermined direction is the optical axis direction. Furthermore, the member to be attached is the camera bracket.

[0051] In this configuration, the pressing portion 113 and the camera bracket 5 are used to position the first member 11 relative to the camera 4 in the optical axis direction, and the first member 11 can be attached to the camera 4. This allows the ejection port 12b to be positioned appropriately relative to the camera 4, and foreign matter adhering to the lens 4a can be appropriately removed by the fluid ejected from the ejection port 12b.

[0052] 7A and 7B are schematic diagrams illustrating a detailed example of the pressing portion 113. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A, in detail, the pressing portion 113 is a first pressing portion 113a that is provided so as to be removable. The first member 11 further has a second pressing portion 113b that can be pressed against the attachment portion in a predetermined direction when the first pressing portion 113a is removed. In this embodiment, the attachment portion is the camera bracket 5. The predetermined direction is the optical axis direction. Also, FIG. 7B shows a state in which the first pressing portion 113a has been removed.

[0053] In such a configuration, it is possible to select which of the multiple pressing units 113a, 113b to use depending on where in the sensor (camera 4 in this example) the first member 11 is desired to be located in a predetermined direction. For example, if the length of camera 4 in the optical axis direction changes, the position in the predetermined direction in which the first member 11 is desired to be located in camera 4 changes, and in such cases it is convenient to be able to select which pressing unit to use.

[0054] Specifically, the first pressing portion 113a and the second pressing portion 113b protrude in a predetermined direction from an opposing surface of the first member 11 that faces the attached portion in a predetermined direction. More specifically, the first pressing portion 113a and the second pressing portion 113b protrude rearward from an opposing surface of the first member 11 that faces the camera bracket 5 in the front-to-rear direction (coincident with the optical axis direction). The opposing surface of the first member 11 that faces the camera bracket 5 in the front-to-rear direction is the rear surface of the first member 11. That is, in this embodiment, the first pressing portion 113a and the second pressing portion 113b protrude rearward from the rear surface of the first member 11.

[0055] The first pressing portion 113a is U-shaped in a plan view from the vertical direction and surrounds the second pressing portion 113b. The first pressing portion 113a and the second pressing portion 113b may be in contact with each other in the front-to-back direction or may be separated from each other. The first pressing portion 113a has a thin portion 113aa that is thinner than other portions of the first pressing portion 113a. In a predetermined direction (the front-to-back direction in this example), the thin portion 113aa is located closer to the opposing surface (the rear surface of the first member 11 in this example) than the tip of the second pressing portion 113b. The thin portion 113aa is thinner in the vertical direction than other portions.

[0056] By providing the thin-walled portion 113aa in the first pressing portion 113a in this way, the first pressing portion 113a can be easily cut off by the thin-walled portion 113aa, and it is also possible to make it easier for the person performing the cutting to recognize which position to cut. Furthermore, since the second pressing portion 113b can protrude more in a predetermined direction (the front-to-rear direction in this example) than the thin-walled portion 113aa, by performing the cutting at the thin-walled portion 113aa, the second pressing portion 113b can be appropriately used instead of the first pressing portion 113a.

[0057] In this embodiment, there are two types of pressing portions, the first pressing portion 113a and the second pressing portion 113b, but this is merely an example. There may be one type of pressing portion protruding rearward from the rear surface of the first member 11, or three or more types. Furthermore, the rear surface of the first member 11 may be used as the pressing portion.

[0058] (2-2. Second embodiment) Next, a fluid ejection nozzle 1A according to a second embodiment will be described. In describing the fluid ejection nozzle 1A according to the second embodiment, descriptions of content that overlaps with the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the fluid ejection nozzle 1A according to the second embodiment. For ease of understanding, FIG. 8 also shows a camera 4 configured as a sensor and a camera bracket 5A, which is a mounting portion to which the camera 4 is attached.

[0059] The fluid ejection nozzle 1A of the second embodiment also includes a first member 21 and a second member 12, similar to the first embodiment. The second member 12 is the general-purpose part described above. That is, the second member 12 is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment. In response to the change in the configuration of the camera bracket 5A from that of the camera bracket 5 of the first embodiment, the first member 21 is configured to be attached to the camera bracket 5A. In response to this change, the first member 21 of the second embodiment is configured differently from the first member 11 of the first embodiment, which is attached to the camera 4.

[0060] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle 1A of the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, the first member 21 has a first fluid passage component 211 and a first-member protruding portion 212. The first fluid passage component 211 and the first-member protruding portion 212 are configured as a single member.

[0061] The first fluid passage component 211 has a first flat plate portion 2111 , a second flat plate portion 2112 , a supply pipe connecting portion 2113 , and a protruding portion 2114 .

[0062] The first flat plate portion 2111 and the second flat plate portion 2112 extend in a direction parallel to the up-down direction. The first flat plate portion 2111 and the second flat plate portion 2112 are arranged in a front-to-back direction, with the first flat plate portion 2111 at the rear and the second flat plate portion 2112 at the front. The first flat plate portion 2111 and the second flat plate portion 2112 are rectangular in a plan view from the front-to-rear direction, and the bisector that bisects the left and right directions of the first and second flat plate portions 2111 and 2112 coincides with the position of the bisector. The second flat plate portion 2112 is narrower in the left-to-right direction than the first flat plate portion 2111. For this reason, the first flat plate portion 2111 has front walls 2111a on the right and left sides of the first flat plate portion 2111 that are exposed without being hidden by the second flat plate portion 2112.

[0063] A first flat plate portion internal cavity 2111b extending in the front-rear direction is provided inside the first flat plate portion 2111. A second flat plate portion internal cavity 2112a extending in the front-rear direction is provided inside the second flat plate portion 2112. The first flat plate portion internal cavity 2111b and the second flat plate portion internal cavity 2112a have circular cross sections when viewed in a plan view from the front-rear direction. The first flat plate portion internal cavity 2111b and the second flat plate portion internal cavity 2112a are connected.

[0064] The supply pipe connecting portion 2113 protrudes rearward from the center of the rear surface of the first flat plate portion 2111. The supply pipe connecting portion 2113 is tubular and extends rearward, and more specifically, is cylindrical. The above-mentioned fluid supply pipe 2 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the supply pipe connecting portion 2113. The internal space 2113a of the supply pipe connecting portion 2113 communicates with the first flat plate portion internal cavity portion 2111b.

[0065] The protrusion 2114 protrudes forward from the center of the front surface of the second flat plate portion 2112. The protrusion 2114 is tubular and extends forward, more specifically, cylindrical. An internal space 2114a of the protrusion 2114 is connected to the second flat plate portion internal cavity 2112a.

[0066] The fluid supplied to the fluid ejection nozzle 1A from the pump device 3 (see FIG. 1) via the fluid supply pipe 2 passes through the internal space 2113a of the supply pipe connecting portion 2113, the first flat plate cavity 2111b, the second flat plate cavity 2112a, and the internal space 2114a of the convex portion 2114, in that order, before exiting the first member 21. That is, the first member 21 has a fluid inlet 21a and a first fluid passage 21b connected to the inlet 21a. In this embodiment, the inlet 21a is located at the rear end of the supply pipe connecting portion 2113 and introduces air. The internal space 2113a of the supply pipe connecting portion 2113, the first flat plate cavity 2111b, the second flat plate cavity 2112a, and the internal space 2114a of the convex portion 2114 form the first fluid passage 21b, which is a passage for air.

[0067] The first member protruding portion 212 protrudes forward from the lower end of the second flat plate portion 2112. The first member protruding portion 212 is provided in a plate shape and is rectangular in a plan view from the vertical direction. The first member protruding portion 212 has a pair of protrusions 212a protruding forward from the front end. The pair of protrusions 212a are arranged with a gap in the left-right direction. In detail, the pair of protrusions 212a are arranged line-symmetrically with respect to a bisector that bisects the first member protruding portion 212 in the left-right direction in a plan view from the vertical direction.

[0068] As in the first embodiment, the first member 21 and the second member 12 are fastened together by the inter-member fastening screw 14, with the convex portion 2114 inserted into the opening 1211 (see FIG. 3). The engagement point between the convex portion 2114 and the opening 1211 forms a connecting portion that connects the first fluid passage 21b and the second fluid passage 12a (see FIG. 4).

[0069] The first member 21 is provided with a pair of screw holes 2112b into which parts of the inter-component fastening screws 14 that have passed through the pair of second-component screw insertion holes 1212 are inserted. More specifically, the pair of screw holes 2112b are provided on the front surface of the second flat plate portion 2112. The pair of screw holes 2112b are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction with the protrusion 2114 as the reference. Note that if the inter-component fastening screws 14 are tapping screws, holes into which the tips of the tapping screws are inserted may be provided instead of the screw holes 2112b.

[0070] In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the first member 21 and the second member 12 are fastened together with the inter-member fastening screws 14, the pair of protrusions 212a are inserted into a pair of recesses 122a (see FIG. 3) provided in the second member 12. Therefore, when the first member 21 and the second member 12 are fastened together with the inter-member fastening screws 14, it is possible to prevent the second member 12 from rotating relative to the first member 21.

[0071] The first member 21 and the camera bracket 5A (mounting portion) are fastened together using external fastening screws 22. For this purpose, the first member 21 has first-member screw insertion holes 2111c through which the external fastening screws 22 pass. The configuration of this embodiment is convenient when the first member 21 is configured to be attached to a mounting portion such as the camera bracket 5A. In detail, the first member 21 is provided with a pair of first-member screw insertion holes 2111c. The pair of first-member screw insertion holes 2111c are arranged symmetrically with respect to the protrusion 2114 in a plan view from the front.

[0072] The camera bracket 5A is provided with a pair of screw holes (not shown) into which parts of the external fastening screws 22 that have passed through the pair of first member screw insertion holes 2111c are inserted. The first member 21 is fixed to the camera bracket 5A by screwing using the pair of screw holes and the pair of external fastening screws 22. Note that when the external fastening screws 22 are tapping screws, the screw holes provided in the camera bracket 5A may not be screw holes but may be holes into which the tips of the tapping screws are inserted.

[0073] In this embodiment, an opening is provided in the camera bracket 5A so that the supply pipe connection portion 2113 can protrude behind the camera bracket 5A when the first member 21 is attached to the camera bracket 5A. With this configuration, the fluid supply pipe 2 can be hidden by being disposed behind the camera bracket 5A. In other words, the appearance of the fluid ejection system 100 can be improved.

[0074] (2-3. Modifications) Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a fluid ejection nozzle 1B according to a modification of the second embodiment. For ease of understanding, Fig. 10 shows a part of a camera bracket 5B, which is the mounting portion, by a dashed line. In this modification, the second member 12 is also the general-purpose part described above, and is exactly the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0075] In the fluid ejection nozzle 1B of the modified example, the first member 21B has a first fluid passage forming portion 211B, similar to the fluid ejection nozzle 1A of the second embodiment. However, in this modified example, the portion formed by the first flat plate portion 2111 and the second flat plate portion 2112 in the second embodiment is formed by a single flat plate portion 2110. This point is different from the second embodiment. A supply pipe connecting portion 2113B, which is connected to the fluid supply pipe 2 (see FIG. 1), protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the flat plate portion 2110. Furthermore, a protrusion 2114B, which is inserted into an opening 1211 (see FIG. 3) of the second member 12, protrudes forward from the front surface of the flat plate portion 2110.

[0076] In this modification, the first member 21B has a first-member screw insertion hole 2110a arranged coaxially with the second-member screw insertion hole 1212. The first-member screw insertion hole 2110a penetrates the flat plate portion 2110 in the front-rear direction. The inter-member fastening screw 14B that fastens the first member 21B and the second member 12 is also used to fasten the first member 21B and the camera bracket 5B (mounting portion).

[0077] More specifically, the inter-component fastening screw 14B is attached from the front of the second member 12, and is inserted into the second member screw insertion hole 1212 and then the first member screw insertion hole 2110a. The tip of the inter-component fastening screw 14B is fitted into a screw hole 51 provided in the camera bracket 5B, which is disposed behind the first member 21B. The first member 21B, the second member 12, and the camera bracket 5B are fastened together by the inter-component fastening screw 14B.

[0078] According to the configuration of this modified example, the camera bracket 5B (mounting portion) and the first member 21B are attached using screws 14B that fasten the first member 21B and the second member 12, thereby reducing the number of parts and labor required.

[0079] <3. Things to keep in mind> In addition to the above embodiments, the various technical features disclosed in this specification can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the technical creation. In other words, the above embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not limiting. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and should be understood to include all modifications that fall within the meaning and scope of the claims. Furthermore, the multiple embodiments and modifications shown in this specification may be combined as appropriate to the extent possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1, 1A, 1B... Fluid injection nozzle 4. Camera (sensor) 4a Lens (designated location) 5, 5A, 5B...Camera bracket (mounting part) 11, 21, 21B... First member 11a, 21a...Inlet 11b, 21b...1st fluid passage 12... Second member 12a...Second fluid passage 12b...Injection port 13 Connection 14, 14B: Inter-component fastening screws 22 External fastening screw 113 Pressing part 113a···First pressing part 113b Second pressing part 1123, 2114, 2114B... Convex part 1211 Opening 1212...Second member screw insertion hole 2110a, 2111c... First member screw insertion hole

Claims

1. a first member fixed to the sensor or a mounting portion to which the sensor is attached, the first member having a fluid inlet and a first fluid passage connected to the inlet; a second member fixed to the first member, the second member having a second fluid passage connected to the first fluid passage and an injection port for injecting the fluid that has passed through the second fluid passage onto a predetermined location on the sensor; Equipped with The first member is a first pressing portion that is pressed against the mounting portion in a predetermined direction when the sensor is mounted; a second pressing portion that can be pressed against the attachment portion in the predetermined direction when the first pressing portion is cut off; A fluid injection nozzle having:

2. The fluid injection nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid passage has a curved configuration.

3. 3. The fluid injection nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a first cross-sectional shape, which is a cross-section of a portion of the second fluid passage connected to the first fluid passage, and a second cross-sectional shape, which is a cross-section of the injection port, are different from each other.

4. the first cross section is circular; The fluid injection nozzle of claim 3 , wherein the second cross section is rectangular.

5. the second member has an opening into which a convex portion of the first member is inserted, or a convex portion to be inserted into the opening of the first member, The fluid injection nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein an engagement portion between the protrusion and the opening constitutes a connection portion that connects the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage.

6. Further provided is an inter-member fastening screw that fastens the first member and the second member, The fluid ejection nozzle according to claim 5 , wherein the second member has a second-member screw insertion hole through which the inter-member fastening screw passes, on a surface on which the opening or the protrusion is provided.

7. The fluid ejection nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the first member has an attachment surface that is attached to an outer surface of the sensor.

8. the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion protrude in the predetermined direction from an opposing surface of the first member that faces the attached portion in the predetermined direction, the first pressing portion has a thin-walled portion that is thinner than other portions of the first pressing portion, The fluid ejection nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the thin portion is provided at a position closer to the opposing surface than a tip end position of the second pressing portion in the predetermined direction.

9. the sensor is a camera, The fluid ejection nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined direction is the optical axis direction of the camera.

10. the first member and the attached portion are fastened together using an external fastening screw, The fluid injection nozzle according to claim 1 , wherein the first member has a first member screw insertion hole through which the external fastening screw passes.

11. the first member has a first-member screw insertion hole arranged coaxially with the second-member screw insertion hole, The fluid injection nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein the inter-member fastening screw is also used to fasten the first member and the attached portion together.

Images